Marcus Imir, a BA (Hons) Accounting & Taxation graduate, tells us about his intensive study programme experience.
“As part of my course I attended a five-day intensive study programme, attended by lots of universities across Europe. Each day is unique, and themed on a different area of finance.
“Each year a different university from the group’s 14 members hosts the event – the year I attended, it was held in Kavala in Greece.
“Students are placed into random groups each day with people from different universities so one day I could be with one person from BU, another from Bulgaria and another from Germany. Each group works on a case study with guidance from academics from each uni there, and then present your findings to the rest of the conference at the end of the day.
A lot of my clients are international clients and I know how to communicate better with people from other cultures.
“Every morning we’d be given a case study and brief of what’s expected and then you work in your team to research your ideas, using the internet and discuss the best approach. The method is very much like work, where there is no one set way to do it – as long as you reach the end goal together.
“There were some language barriers working in the mixed groups but the majority did speak English. There were some phrases that not everyone understood so we’d get out our phones and use Google Translate. It was generally very easy to work around.
“The whole idea allowed me to see what it is like working with people from a completely different culture and background. It especially helped me now that I’m working in tax, as a lot of my clients are international clients and I know how to communicate better with people from other cultures.”